Former and current clients of East Vancouver Art Studio s are working to come up with the $370,000 a year to keep the centre open (Vancouver Sun, June 9, 2014)

A look at The Art Studios, a Vancouver Coastal Health community health unit in Vancouver, that provides beginner and intermediate classes to people with a mental health diagnosis, the program’s objective is to encourage growth and recovery through participation in art. The Art Studios lost funding from Vancouver Coastal Health last summer, after 20 years in operation. The health authority transferred its $357,000 funding to other areas it rates as higher priorities. Private donors have given the Art Studios enough money to keep it running until 2016. For more information/how to help call the Art Studios at 604-871-9788 or visit its Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheArtStudios Tax-deductible donations can be made to the VGH-UBC Hospital Foundation at 604-875-4676